Thirsk traveled to Leeds Adel with the record of being the only team in the league to have taken a point from them all season. With 4 matches left to play in the season and Thirsk needing 9 points to seal promotion this was always going to be a tough ask. Thirsk started well enough, and the first few minutes were evenly matched, but Leeds looked capable of penetrating the D with numbers. Sure enough, after only 8 minutes they broke into the D on the right and flicked the ball to the ‘P’ spot where they had 2 unmarked players ready and able to score a simple tap in. Barely could Thirsk settle from this shock and Leeds had done it again – a 2-man overlap providing an easy goal with only 11 minutes gone. Thereafter, Thirsk managed to settle into a more controlled style, and the game was more even, with a number of good attacks from Thirsk not quite getting the results we needed. Towards the end of this period, Patrick Hunt was forced to retire, having aggravated an old injury. This caused us to have to re-organise and, barely a minute in to the restart, Leeds were able to penetrate the D and a lifted ball found its way through the crowd and into the net. 3-0, just as Thirsk looked like they had settled into a better rhythm. Once again, however, Leeds managed to press the D and having drawn the keeper out managed to bobble/trickle the ball towards the net; despite an heroic effort from Don Petty, he was not able to prevent it from going in and the first half ended 4-0 to Leeds.
The second half saw a much stronger performance from Thirsk, with better defensive discipline at the back and better and more consistent engagement and pressure from the midfield. Attack-wise, Thirsk probable had the better of the period than Leeds with multiple chances arising but with Thirsk unable to capitalise on them. Typified, perhaps, by an excellent penalty corner flick from Joseph Shannon that was saved in almost impossible circumstances by the last man on the post. Jake Bowers, Joseph Shannon, George Hunt worked tirelessly to attack the Leeds goal but gained nothing. At the other end Don Petty made 2 hugely valuable goal line saves but other than that the defence held strong. So no goals for either side in the second half, but Leeds had already done enough and the result guaranteed them promotion. As a footnote, their sister side (Leeds Adel 5) were away at Boston Spa and secured a 2-1 win which certainly helps Thirsk Third team take one step closer to promotion. We have three home games to end the season, and our chances rest in our own hands – let’s hope we can stay strong.

Team: Mason Fenlon (Capt), Mike Rushmere, Don Petty, Johnny Scaling, James Bojar, Richard Taylor, Henry Houseman, George Hunt, Patrick Hunt, Liam Shannon, Michael Darcy, Sam Youmans, Jake Bowers, Joseph Shannon.